Autonomic Neuroscience - Oral Physiology and Pharmacology

The research focuses on the physiology and pharmacology of autonomic neuro-effector systems. Over the years a number of tissues have served as model organs in our studies such as the heart, the urinary bladder, the urethra, the pancreatic gland and, in particular, salivary glands.

Presently, interest is focused on the various transmitter mechanisms involved in the short-term (secretion and blood flow) as well as in the long-term regulation (mitosis, growth promoting factors, protein synthesis and receptor sensitivity) of salivary glands, and further on the composition of the saliva and the various functions of the saliva.

Particular attention is being paid to the action of a number of non-conventional transmitters such as neuropeptides and nitric oxide and their interactions with the classical transmitters as well as to the plasticity of the various mechanisms.

The action of some gastro-intestinal hormones (cholecystokinin, gastrin and melatonin) on various salivary glandular activities is studied, including synergistic interactions between hormones and the autonomic nervous system. Moreover, anti-inflammatory effects in the glands exerted by gastro-intestinal hormones are being explored. In addition, the possibility of efferent functions of sensory nerves in the glands is also being tested. The minor salivary glands, located just beneath the oral epithelium, are of major importance for the protection of the oral mucosa, and the innervation and secretion of these glands are being investigated. A patented mode of stimulation, and avoiding adverse effects, for the treatment of mouth dryness was developed in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company.

The regulation of specific iodide transport mechanisms in salivary glands are investigated in order to find tools to protect the glands from destruction during administration of radiolabelled iodide in the treatment of thyreoideal tumors. Moreover, the phenomenon of clozapine-induced sialorrhea is explored as well as possibilities to reduce a disturbing drooling.

Both in vivo and in vitro physiological/pharmacological techniques are used as well as molecular biology techniques and proteomics, and further, assessments using immunochemistry, histology including ultrastructural morphology, and morphometry are performed within the group or as a result of collaborative work.

In line with the oral physiology/pharmacology directed interest of the group, human studies are carried out in collaboration with The Dental School in Gothenburg and the ENT-clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Moreover an extensive collaboration is presently taken place with The Catholic University of Rome (Prof Castagnola), The University of Cagliari (Profs Riva and Irene Messana) and The National Institute for Natural Sciences, Okasaka (Prof Murakami).

Formerly, Professor in Oral Biology, Senior Lecturer/Acting Professor in Physiology and Senior Research Fellow of the Swedish Medical Research Council in the field of "Autonomic Nervous System Biology"

KHOSRAVANI N. On the innervation of salivary glands and treatment of dry mouth an experimental and clinical study. 2009. The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Chalmers Reproservice, Gothenburg, Sweden, 1-54, ISBN-978-91-628-7939-6.